Does Power Really Matter On GMRS & Ham Radio, Or Is A Good Antenna Better?

You can learn about the SDR-Dongle that I used in this video here: amzn.to/3Gu9DkR
Many people assume that to get more transmission range and to talk farther on a GMRS or ham-radio you need to increase your power - but is this true? Will a bigger or better antenna on your GMRS or ham radio let you talk longer-distance than simply increasing your power output?
In this video I test which is better for talking farther on a GMRS or ham radio (70cm) - more power/a power amplifier or a bigger and better antenna in a good location. Note: Some people have commented that UHF frequencies go much higher than 500Mhz - but, nobody cares.
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#gmrs

[@andybonneau9209]

I can do without the stud muffin pics, thanks. Stepping babes, okay.

[@TheNotaRubicon]

If you think that anyone other than your mother cares about your opinion, you have seriously overestimated your place in this world.

[@melissasmess2773]

I like it😊

[@Gruuvin1]

Too enticing for ya?

[@imheretolearn770]

Thats Chad

[@scarletdreamer]

I rather enjoyed seeing “Chris”. Just because he doesn’t bat for *your* team, that doesn’t mean that other teams don’t appreciate a nice visual. Slow your roll and open your mind. Or not. 🤷‍♀️

[@NWO_KNOW_IT_ALL]

Wow! Is that the very famous Klaus Schwab on the background monitor? I'm pretty sure his message to Randy is: "You shall own NO RADIOS and be happy". Ready to give up all those radios Randy 😉

[@volvo09]

I've been bad tonight... I made and consumed beef chili. Forgot the insect frass... Oh gosh darn it! I'm also going to throw a log in my wood stove, oh no! I'm being independent!

[@troy3456789]

Klaus Schwab recently complimented China, the CCP as a model for the rest of the world. He doesn't have a clue about the suffering in China by the CCP. He really should open his eyes about the CCP. The WEF cannot get respect if it says things like that.

[@wannabecarguy]

Do y'all know that the people of China used radios to hijack all the airwaves.

[@TheChico868]

I love both more power and nice antenna

[@weboughtjeeps]

I'm just here for the copious amounts of thick, creamy, velvety smooth, ........knowledge. 🤣

[@breckfreeride]

Both... 800 gigajules and 50 foot antenna

[@David-kg1hc]

Lets go brandon!

[@alokbhargava52]

Why do you call RF as electricity, they are electro magnetic waves.

[@chriscutrara6313]

IT'S NOT HOW MUCH POWER YOU PUT OUT. IT'S THE ANTENNA AND LOCATION AND ENVIROMENT. AND H0PEFULLY IT'S A SWEET SPOT. (LOCATION AND ENVIROMENT)

[@TheNotaRubicon]

THANK YOU FOR REPEATING PRETTY MUCH EXACTLY WHAT I SAID IN THE VIDEO BUT WHY ARE WE YELLING

[@chriscutrara6313]

@@TheNotaRubicon I DON'T THINK I WAS YELLING. IF I DID, I APOLOGIZE.

[@TheNotaRubicon]

Then why are you still yelling?

[@chriscutrara6313]

@TheNotaRubicon HOW DO, RANDY! I AM NOT YELLING. I HAVE POOR EYE SIGHT AND I HAVE TO TYPE WITH THE CAPITAL LETTERS. I AM ALSO GETTING OVER A HEART ATTACK A FEW MONTHS AGO. JUST WANT TO KEEP ON GOING WITH MY LIFE RANDY. I AM 71 YEARS OLD. HOPEFULLY THAT WILL TELL YOU EVERY THING YOU WANT TO KNOW. ALL THE BEST. CHRIS VA6CJC

[@TheNotaRubicon]

I understand - my dad had a heart attack too and he yelled a lot.

[@FukWit.]

Where do you get the shirts? Fuckin hilarious 😂

[@N2YTA]

Another important thing to remember is that communication is a two way thing; increasing your power doesn’t improve your ability to hear the other station, however improving your antenna affects both transmit and receive.

[@davep6977]

Agree 100% (Rule of thumb, your antenna system (antenna & coax) is 90% of your set-up) W9DLP

[@andrewyoung-n8ary]

I have a ham friend who thinks he needs 1,000 watts all the time. Only a small percentage of hams use that much. He was whining about his vhf radio having some noise on transmit and wouldn’t listen to me tell him to reduce power.

[@imheretolearn770]

Im very glad a youtube superstar like yourself takes the time to explain the complexities to us commonfolk. Since watching this channel, I've obtained my gmrs permit, and I'm studying to be a sad ham.

[@lapinebob]

I got my GMRS license before I got my Amateur license about 18 months ago. I recently got my Amateur Extra. I get a kick out of these deadpan videos. I was a CB'er for many years also.

[@tinynhhouse5467]

I got my general class ham license last September. I just studied the questions for a week and I only got 2 wrong on the test. You can do it!

[@sfrahm1]

BTW - You would have more fun if you studied to be a Happy Ham instead

[@davep6977]

Happy HAMS have more fun. Been a ham since the 70's

[@johnyoung1128]

Study to be a “happy ham” instead, there are too many sad ones.

[@WildCaptures]

Klaus Schwab is trying to look like Dr. Evil but is much more sinister. Chris was very accurate 👍

[@MisterEmoto]

Thank you for doing what you do. I absolutely love your videos even though I'm not really into GMRS, You have a way of conveying information in a entertaining way that says screw the haters and I love that.

[@leoingless]

Congratulations! Very clarifying episode! I praise the NotaRubicon Institute for all this research! There is nothing better than the practical experiment.

[@concernedpatriot9314]

Absolutely

[@wired-up]

Spot On! Improving the antenna is usually better than increasing power. But just as important: Improving the antenna helps you Receive better as well.

[@ke8mattj]

No amount of antennas or power will matter when we are in our pods and eating the bugs.

[@oldrango883]

Facts 😂

[@EthosAtheos]

Not an expert here. For every 3db of gain you get twice the power. So, that 12db of gain is a huge increase in power. It shows just haw little signal is getting to you out of that 5/50 watts.

[@davidgreen6525]

Love your stuff man. I'm a complete noob, learning so I can enjoy this hobby with my son who asked if he could speak to the space station! Thanks man

[@michaeleber4752]

Great video. Learning more and more from you every day! Nice to finally see Chris. Much better than the pictures I had in my head.

[@concernedpatriot9314]

Notarubacon 🥓 can you do a (TEST) using hight ( 👋🏼 ‘s) compared to lows (👺) So we’s can see on your picture machine how 👋🏼compare to lows??? Can ya ?

[@BorisEkner]

FYI Under the right circumstances I can talk to the ISS (the International Space Station) with a BaoFeng HT radio. - I have a dedicated finger to be raised for any Sad Ham who question this fact.

[@MrRobertSpearsJr]

Watch the Sad Hams freak out. Popcorn in hand.

[@tonymessina9382]

You need to make a shirt that says I THINK SAD HAM'S MOM'S ARE HOT

[@jayjohnson7827]

How can I transfer to the NotaRubicon Institute next semester?

[@stevenemert837]

"Penetration" at 3:55 reminds me of one of Mike Rowe's Dirty Jobs episodes. The one where he was helping with calves being born.

[@artinist]

Love the jokes. Great content, keep up the great job. LGB

[@RandellReeder]

I’m I first? Anyways, since I can’t afford power, I always prefer a very well made tuned antenna, and try my best to shove that antenna as high in the air i possibly can.

[@SethsAdventures1977]

The Let’s go Brandon over the radio was absolutely priceless 😂 Your videos are amazing especially for us simpletons…..

[@CalDocky]

I laughed out loud when I heard the “let’s go Brandon.” Good stuff!!

[@rodnabors7364]

Made me curious if the amount of Brandon in a transmission correlated to any increase of Fars.

[@hakes2]

My guy

[@tnewdad]

“The type of power that squirts out of your radio…” 😂😂🤣

[@t1czer]

Makes you wonder if squirt cam reach e-island.

[@PhinAI]

Trying to be witty, but I've got nothing. Basically, quality of squirt dispensary, receptor, and velocity trumps squirt volume? Regardless, don't get it in your eye.

[@DonzLockz]

Height is might.

[@itsapittie]

I really like these real-life demonstrations instead of people just arguing about their opinions.

[@RisingTidesAC]

Randy, how long do you think it will take for an "expert" to comment that it is illegal to transmit simplex on repeater inputs?

[@JohnDoe-zg6fn]

Give it about an hour. If you film it, they will come. Anddddd make fools of themselves lol

[@Gruuvin1]

Isn't that what you just did!?

[@thomasmaughan4798]

All transmissions are simplex on repeater inputs. Oh, but you meant not listening to the repeater output. So long as you identify, there's nothing illegal about it. Rude maybe.

[@grigorirasputin5020]

Perhaps Chris was actually transmitting through a repeater to see how well he was hitting it and Randy, resourceful devil that he is, just happened to have his receiver set to the input so as to capture data for a parallel project. 😉👍

[@marcspaz]

Thank you!!! This stuff is what the new(er) folks need to help understand what actually helps. Some of the 'legacy' users, too. LOL

[@RodrigoAGJ]

Randy... Please next video, the best GMRS antenna for home base‼️ Regards 🌴🌴🌴

[@abdulal-hodl8861]

Ghey vibes intensifying...

[@Francois_Dupont]

wow! his videos are getting very *Based* !

[@TheNotaRubicon]

What does that mean in grown-up English?

[@troy3456789]

@@TheNotaRubicon It is a compliment. "Based" is a fav among millennials to describe something they like.

[@seanboy05]

@@TheNotaRubicon It means LET'S GO BRANDON! FJB!

[@curtchase3730]

Beautiful, well done! Pretty much the same in the world of home Hi-Fi music reproduction. 5 watts into a small bookshelf speaker gets background music. 50 watts in gets cleaner punchy background music. 5 watts into a huge refrigerator size corner horn speaker gets 2 ear bleeds. 50 watts into same speaker gets a visit from the local men in blue + the side effect of hearing loss! 🤪

[@pchris6662]

I appreciate the “affiliate link below” to the sdr you used. I don’t mind if a few pennies get tossed your way if indeed it does in appreciation for your helpful tips. However, I do wish your link was to an sdr WITH and antenna and not a “naked one”. If I’m not mistaken I believe there is one for 10 bones more! no? …love your show

[@TheNotaRubicon]

Yes, and probably a few other combos.. But dont worry, if you use my link and go to Amazon and by a slightly different product within 24 hours I still get credit. So go shopping and thank you!

[@pchris6662]

@@TheNotaRubicon Done and done.

[@Mr.Modulation.StatenIslandMic]

Lol the squirt your the best bro keep me laughing

[@jayfisher1]

What about an amp vs repeater on a good antennae? Very helpful demo!

[@zebulon2.198]

Do you have any 1/4 wave GMRS antennas vs other GMRS antennas videos? Specifically I'd like to know how they compare in fars. Thanks for making learning fun.

[@DavidMitchell79]

The 9dB increase is actually 8 times the signal. Each 3dB is a doubling of signal. Thanks you for the video. Excellent illustration of watts vs good antenna in attaining the more fars.

[@bodazaphfa]

Was hoping to see a sad ham pin. Will have to check back later.

[@troy3456789]

I am waiting for some other sad ham to comment that at 02:23, the UHF frequency is really from 300MHz to 3GHz. Not 380 to just over 500.

[@JohnDoe-zg6fn]

Give it time. They can't help themselves.

[@W2IRT]

@@JohnDoe-zg6fn I came this close to getting myself pinned with that comment . But then again, UHF from the LMR perspective is basically 410-512.

[@johnyoung1128]

@@troy3456789 he doesn’t have to now, you just did!

[@ordyy89]

The WEF lizard in the background is hilarious. I just built a Jpole gmrs antenna out of 1/2” copper pipe. I’m new to all this and discovered that rg58 isn’t very good. I tuned to 465 and at 465 was getting 1.5 SWR and around 2.0 at 462 and 467. I had a 50’ run of rg58 while doing this test. I lopped of 40’ of the coax and now get 1.086 at 465 and 1.25 at both 462 and 467. Works for me. And yes….Lets Go Brandon👍

[@johnroberts6695]

I was just perusing the Signal.Stick website and I came across this GMRS notice: “GMRS: The typical Signal Stick will probably work fine on GMRS - many people use it already and report good results. That said, if you want to be 'mathematically correct' you could in theory make the antenna about 1.1 inches shorter to make the dual band (19″) signal stick match GMRS better (and also MURS). The 440 antenna should work fine as-is, but in theory about a quarter (1/4) inch could be cut off to make it match better in theory. In practice it’s likely that you’d add more variance by moving your arm across your body, so it seems silly to us, but that’s what the math says.” The same thing he said about MURS. It would be great if someone compared a Signal.Stick with a Nagoya GMRS antenna. I've always thought Nagoyas were overrated, but I'd like to see it tested by an expert who was sitting atop a large hill, was into GMRS and had the time and resources to conduct such a test. Anyone know where I can find such a person?

[@johnkeo358]

I'd have to agree, I was hitting a repeater almost 70 miles away on a mountain with 2 watts of power while on UHF digital mode. I was having a full blown clear conversation inside a building and it blew me away

[@mwierowski]

Great video and I enjoy how you present the information in common sense terms that the masses can grasp. Just our of curiosity, did Chris get any SWR readings from the short antenna versus larger antenna? I'd be curious how much of a difference the results would be for the same test at 5W for a tuned vs non-tuned antenna. All the SWR videos I have seen on KZbin seem to be presented from the standpoint of the person transmitting, but I think it would be helpful to see how much of a difference it makes from someone receiving the signal as you presented in this video. Along the same concept if you plan to do a follow up video, I have often wondered when an antenna manufacturer advertises a +db gain, in the real world how much difference does that really make? This video sort of showed that when increasing the power on the small antenna, the positive db gain between 5W and 50W didn't sound like all that much. The reason I ask this question is I have been looking at the Midland MicroMobile MXTA26 (+6db gain) vs MicroMobile MTXA25 (+3db gain) and now I am wondering if the +3db gain would really be noticeable in real world results?

[@stupidkid351]

Love this guy’s content. It’s amazing and hilarious at the same time.

[@shannonestep5506]

Your favorite viewer...................ME!

[@bobd1806]

I will be following you! Let's go Brandon 😂🤣😂🤣. I'm from the old school of CBs in the 70-80s, im getting back into raido. Old school I had a BLJ. 500 Oh boy what fun it was 🤣. Feel free to say ham anytime lol

[@3henry214]

Great video... and I'm still laughing at the "face shot" from the boofwang. The Voyager 1 spacecraft that's now almost 15 billion miles away, is still communicating with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in Pasadena, CA. The transmitting power of the Voyager 1 is 23 watts... how can that be? Super great antennas on both the transmitting and receiving sides. To me that's a great example of antenna versus power.

[@lowandslow3939]

I just found your videos. Watched quite a few. Entertaining and informative. Subbed. I’m trying to set up comms between my 83 year old (prepper) mother’s house and my place, about 4 miles away. We live in southern Vermont so there are rolling forested hills here, hundreds of feet in elevation variance, not thousands. I really want to use GMRS but don’t know if we even stand a chance of making it work. I’m considering two Midland MXT500’s, a power supply for hers and mine truck mounted. I’ve seen antennas from 2-7dB and am really confused as to which will be best. I understand line of sight and the advantage of antenna height but really don’t know what to try. I don’t want directional antennas as I will be moving in my truck. I’d love any insight you can give me. BTW, Midland does not take phone calls. Not even regarding sales. I sent them an email but haven’t heard back from them yet. They are having a 20% sale today and tomorrow that will save me over $200 if I can decide and pull the trigger. Thanks.

[@andyprescott2750]

Hello Randy. I'm looking at mounting a GMRS antenna in my attic. Which one would you recommend.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

What a great demonstration video Randy and Chris 9:38 @NotaRubicon Productions

[@r3df1ns]

Randy, another entertaining and informative vid! Dig it. Where do you have your antenna mounted on your Jeep? I picked up the same Midland and have it mounted outside the driver side pillar. My JK also has an antenna bracket just above the driver's side taillight that was installed by the previous owner.

[@dennisboesiger1033]

I will be contacting "Pencil Neck Watermelon Head" and have him suggest you be banned from KZbin for saying "70 meter band". ✏️🍉

[@sfrahm1]

Mo Powa! Let's Go Brandon! Lulzz Your sideways trolling is impeccable Randy.

[@CPLBSS88]

It cracks me up all the FUDDS who clamor over their expertness while claiming amping it up to force minuscule ERP via their insanely overpriced pieces of wire and pipe...they're so.... extra.

[@centralscrutinizer76]

Thanks for posting , i bought a 25 watt gmrs radio , and was pretty bummed out thinking I should have spent more money and got a more powerful radio . Looking at your comparison it is likely I would not even notice the difference.

[@miked5728]

Hmmm.... Don't recall seeing "Ma-Jiga-Hertz " questions on the Ham Exam... 😂😂

[@jurpo6]

This would be even more informative if you repeated the test at double the distance to compare. I suspect the 5w signal would fade more.

[@jacoblowery2162]

I have a revitis repeater with a 17 inch fiberglass antenna but I have it raised about 15-20 feet. Unfortunately I live in Ohio (not much high ground and a lot of trees. I can only get about 2 miles out with the repeater. What do you suggest for my situation to get more fars?

[@notwrkn2mch]

Trucker for 30 years and i found out early on that a really good antenna with a chincy cheap cb will far outperform a really good expensive cb with a chincy cheap antenna New to GMRS and finding the same info still the same.....

[@vikinghog]

Amazing. The Cancel Culture is out of control. People even want to stop you from talking about ham radio because you don’t have a ham license. I hope you asked them where in the FCC rules it says people talking about the subject of ham radio have to have a license.

[@kcstafford2784]

long ago in CB land i have learnacated that a cheep rado on a good antenna better than a expensave raido with a cheep antenna that placement of antanna and ground is most important my best set up is an old Westinghouse 23 on a CJ (thata old Jeep) with a 72 whip mounted in the middle of hood skipp land is always asking what rig am i useing yes it has a 50w linear but i seldom use it ....on a snow day on top of the big horns i sware i can skip around the world.....yes my speln is bad just to make the educated feel better about themselfsess.......

[@petedapipe586]

A ham licence gives you the opportunity to modify your equipment for experiments. So. Can a boo fang on low power and antenna “sealed “ glued be covered on your US channels ?

[@CharlesMartel676]

Go with a better antenna always. A more powerful amplifier won't help you receive any better.

[@nocodenoclueknowradio8176]

Very un American of you. Every good American operator knows. No matter how big or small your antenna is, the answer to more fars is pumping in more cubic rf powers all the way to the "legal" "limit". Aint no gubermint gonna tell me how many cubic powers I can penetrate my antenna with.

[@brianpayne5773]

Psalms of Zenu 52:7 reads: "How beautiful are thy DBs and how low thy spurious emotions are they that have a large and tall antena on a mountain."

[@freeidaho-videos]

Okay, I am convinced. Do you have a bracket to recommend to mount a base station antenna onto my Jeep ;)

[@jamesdavidson7604]

"It's not the size that counts! It's how you use it!" -Sheriff of Rottingham

[@kcstafford7997]

Radio out law here the ham nerds seem to be more worried about my license than the FCC???Common since and courtesy can go a long ways... Something sad hams don't seem to understand...

[@johnnorman7708]

A good antenna will really do wonders on darned little power. Low power comms in amature radio depend on the antenna by nature. It's about NOT having power.

[@brianlanier5141]

Love your show! Would you mind putting "Fall Guy" Colt's hot tub on your monitor.

[@TomRolfson]

Let's go Brandon- Chris scores one!

[@pamalacrabtree1727]

Smiley triband antenna is what works best on my kenwood thd74 radio and the thd72 radio. The president randy II cb radios do fine with the stock antenna.

[@chrono581]

Yeah basically the entire point of having more power in your radio is to cut through interference also as you demonstrated it can help if you have a less than desirable antenna however having an antenna in an ideal position will give you much better results but having that extra power is nice on the off chance you need it to use it

[@robertmeyer4744]

very good demo. the antenna is the biggest part. it the watts can not get out it is a waste. and what good is all that power when you can not hear the outher person . Try the ABBREE super long GMRS antenna on a HT . and do your rainge test compared to stock antenna . 69

[@ernestrichardson40]

They are not EXPERTS RANDY!! JUST WANTA BES' !!!

[@SK-rj1ti]

SOC radios often require shorter antennas in order to receive without front end overload. In such cases, more power could compensate for using a shorter antenna on transmit.

[@icebrakernh]

More power with a better antenna match of 1:1 will give you the best squirts but fars are line of sight

[@freeidaho-videos]

This is the U.S.A., we will get more power and a better antenna.

[@watthairston1483]

A veritable "cornucopia" of knowledge...😂

[@stayraddad4638]

I just buy whatever you tell me ;) Learned a lot from you and I appreciate it

[@geraldhaggard1018]

As many hams have said: you can work the world on a good antenna with low power.

[@rockspydre]

Sorry… but “normal” people don’t even know what a variable is.

[@garfish307]

@notarubicon productions are you sure the image in the cover for this video isn't your AI generated picture? I think that is more representative than the one you recently posted.

[@fletcherbrown728]

OK - that was really good - BUT - you never said what your pronouns are.

[@andrewyoung-n8ary]

You only need the same power or a bit more as the radio you’re talking to.

[@reloadnorth7722]

Bahahaha 😝, penetration, lmfao you crack me up. Great videos, don't stop.

[@TheH454]

Chris sounds like a pretty smart fella!

[@Zombified-]

The "lets go brandon"... ugh. Politics suck.

[@johnyoung1128]

Talk as much “ham” as you like! You don’t have to apologise!

[@trayces8006]

From my limited understanding the lower the giggleHertz radio channel and using VHF with more watts output you can get better distance if other variables like buildings and trees etc are not expecting things vs a higher gigglehertz channel on UHF with high power. @notarubiconproductions do i have that mostly right? Ive been learning ham,UHF,VHF,GMRS, CB,MURs, and FRS for about 2 weeks.

[@donalderickson-si8ww]

I run a rugged 45 watt on a mag mount on a medle file cabenet works grate 10 miles to my mane tower

[@vu3mes]

I will always have better antennas than more power. Have worked qrp all the globe.

[@latergator3367]

Power to the Peoples ! More power is always better ! Yeah for Ed Fong ! He da man !

[@IHUTCHI]

Who knew that size really does matter. Damn...

[@adamharris2674]

Just got my GMRS license. When I end a transmission do I say the whole thing ("WRZL835") or do I just say the last 3 numbers? Thanks.

[@strangerous1313]

@adamharris2674 The whole thing.

[@applesbighatranch6906]

Well, HOWDY! (not entirely fake entho0ziazm, for i haz questins) - Might ye address the creation of ground plane for mobile mounts such as aluminum-bodied veehickles? or trunk/hood-lip bracket mounts. I see the radial-leg antenna base affairs for truckers and wonder if any of the smaller variations on that theme might work. OR - might I simply use the EXCELLENT cookie sheet methodolololgies? I thank you from the bottom of my enthusiast heart.

[@applesbighatranch6906]

In the absense of Our Esteemed Leadership, Lord NAR, I have learned that a ground plane need not necessarily be ferrous. An AL-YEW-MINI-UHM bodice may serve as well. Too, there exist GMRS antennAE for which * no ground plane is necessary * such as some of the LAIRD offerings. Many fars to you all.